Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17
THE RED SCAR.

er pleased IMAM ObueTWISo.
I had been writing up the ruins of
that strange land for New York paper,
and had turned my face homeward, when
I received letter requesting me to wait
San Pablo for further instructions.
San Pablo interested me. It was a
sleepy old Spanish village, with a big
cathedral, collection of the usual adobe
houses around it, and back
ground of snow capped mountains rising
boldly from a landscame of torrid
summer heats.
It was here that met with the most
puzzling experience of my life.
was returning from solitary ride
among the hills.
The declining sun warned me that
darkness would overtake me if I did not
make haste, but could see in the dis
lance the massive towers of the cathedral
/ felt no uneasiness.
At one place my lonely road or mule
path skirted deep ravine, which was SO
choked up with a thick, scrubby under
growth that I was unable to see any
thing but tangled mass of foliage and
vines.
"a good place for an ambush, I said to
myself.
'sThe idea impressed me so that L
spuried my mule, but, to my surprise,
the usually docile animal stood stock
still.
ssSenor!"
The voice rang out from the depths of
the ravine, but it seemed to be at my
ear.
"Senor, haiti"
As halted, on account of my mules
Cbstinacy, the command was unneces-
sary.
''Stand aside!'' I shouted. "and let me
passw
just then I saw protruding out of the
bushes in front of me the muzzle of an
old-fashioned blunderbuss, a fint-lock
old weapon in very general use in Yucca
tan.
shudder ran down my spinal col
umn.
/ was unarnned, and the blunderbuss
was about the size of small cannon. Re-
sistance was not to be though of.
81 will surrenaer,' cried to my unseen
foe.
''The senior is sensible" said the man
with the big gun, as he leaped into the
road.
A rapid but close scrutiny of my captor
showed me young man of medium
height, whose 1.-the, sinewy figure indi-
lated exceptional activity and strength.
lie wore homespun cotton suit, and the
face under his sombero had the brown
tinge common to all the Yucatantese who
were of mixed Spanish and Indian blood.
The mans right temple was disfgured by
peculiar scar, shaped like crescent
and of fiery red color. Beyond this scar
there was nothing remarkable about his
face. He had regular features, thin,
cruel lips and restles eyes like beads of
jet.
II will hold up my hands and you can
go through me-" said 1 pleasantly. You
don't want the mule. do your"
'The senior is wrong. 1 do want the
mule" replied the robber, in a quiet,
self-possessed tone. The senior will have
the kindness to dismount and hold up his
hands,
As there was no use in wasting words, I
obeyed without objection.
The robber with quick jerk drew my
hands behind me and pinioned them with
strip of rawhide. Then he bound me
securely to tree. After finishing these
preliminaries he emptied my pockets Of
the loose silver in them.
as that all, senor?" he asked, in deep
disgust.
"All have" answered,
iAO oOuol has SaAo VIC
rascal with a vicious grin. "But the mule
is somethig."
The robber turned my steed to the
right about and then jumped into the
saddle.
'Let the senior be patient" he said as
he rode off. "Some traveller will release
him, and it is not far to San Pablo. Give
Franchises compliments to the alcade.
Adios, senor."
And waving his hand he disappeared
around the bend in the road.
So this was the noted highwayman,
Francisco, for whose head the Governor
had offered heavy reward!
There was consolation IN the Thought
no one would blame me for surrendering
to a daredevil who was considered
match for any three men in Yucatan.
But my train of thought was soon inter
rupted in pleasing manner. Francisco
had been gone perhaps quarter of an
hour when muleteer made his appear
ance leading his little burro along the
narrow path. Hailing the stranger, I in
ducec him TO cut my bonds and release
me. The mcleteer told me that escaped
lightly. He gave Francisco a very black
character.
IF this place had not been in sight of
oan faDlo, said he, 1.-The cut-throat would
have killed YOU"
The next morning the little town of
San Pablo was in the state OF eruntion.
Men, women and children rushed nell
nell thrOugthe street uttering yells lock-
ed out of the window several times, but
could nrt make up my mind whether il
was revolution or holiday.
threw myself on the bed and tried to
get into a doze, and was succeeding when
the alcede rushed into my room with
bevy of his retainers and pulled me into
sitting posture.
sThe senator's commands have been
obeyed, said the alcaede. excitedly. "The
dog of bandit has been arrested, and
will be tried before me at once. But we